Motanka

The Motanka are sold individually and made to order. The artist will choose the design and style, unless WUNDERfund is emailed by a customer with a specific design request. 

All funds raised go directly to supporting the original artist. 

Shadowbox is for demonstration purposes only, and does not come with the purchase of a Motanka. 

Motankas (Мотанка) are ancient Ukrainian family talismans. They are the symbol of prosperity, goodness and hope. Then first knotted dolls appeared about 5,000 years ago, and represented the unity of the family and deep connection between multiple generations. 

The name “motanka” comes from the word “motaty” (to wind) ie to make a knotted doll out of fabric, without using a needle and scissors. Motanka served as a talisman of human destiny and our ancestors believed that destiny cannot be pierced or cut. Generally dolls were in the shape of a human figure, usually a woman or a child, and were made from pieces of fabric from old clothes of family members connected by knots.

Each doll was unique and made with only good intentions and sincerity as it was believed that it has power and will act as a protector of a household and it’s inhabitants.

Motankas differ from ordinary dolls by “empty” faces. Our ancestors believed that giving the doll a face could tie a person’s soul to it. Therefore faces have no facial features and instead the Motanka dolls have multicoloured threads laid out in a cross shape across the face instead. The cross is a pagan symbol of the Sun where horizontal lines meant feminine, and vertical - masculine.

We hope you love your Motanka!

About the Artist

Raisa received her education at Chernivtsi State University. She has two children and four grandchildren. She lives in the city of Ternopil (Western Ukraine). Her son Volodymyr has been defending Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale invasion. Her daughter’s husband died in 2022 defending Kyiv. 

For many years, she has always been engaged in needlework in her free time. Her husband always supported her hobby, so it was a pleasure to do this. 

Raisa knitted for all family members, later she became interested in straw applique, painted in the “batik” technique, made Christmas tree toys in the “tilde” style, knitted Christmas tree decorations. She made embroidered clothes for her family, which contained absolutely unique patterns and cut designs.

In recent years, Raisa has tried making motanka because it is a unique folk art that combines customs, needlework and skill. She has given her dolls to people who were delighted with her work. 

This is an important component of her work and therefore it brings her pleasure.

To date, Raisa has made only 50 unique dolls.